Utilisation Of The Sustainability Index For Disposables In Cataract Surgery (Sidics) Calculator To Make Routine Cataract Surgery More Sustainable
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP26.14 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/mze4-pp15
Authors: Akanksha Bagchi 1 , Sjoerd Elferink 2 , Nicolas Winklmair 3 , Durdana Shah 4 , Sarishka Desai 5 , Yan Nag Neo* 6 , Johannes Birtel 7 , Oliver Findl 8
1Moorfields Eye Hospital; Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust,London,United Kingdom, 2Flevoziekenhuis,Almere,Netherlands, 3Faculty of Medicine and Health, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre ,University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia, 4Rush Medical University Hospital,Chicago,United States, 5University of Connecticut School of Medicine,Connecticut,United States, 6Department of Ophthalmology,Moorfields Eye Hospital; Whipps Cross University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust,London,United Kingdom, 7Department of Ophthalmology,University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf,Hamburg,Germany, 8Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery, a Karl Landsteiner Institute, Hanusch Hospital,Vienna,Austria
Purpose
To utilise the ESCRS sustainability index for disposables in cataract surgery (SIDICS) calculator software to evaluate the carbon footprint of cataract surgery from various hospitals across Europe and identify disposables contributing the most to this. The secondary aim was to encourage stake holders by making recommendations to make their cataract packs more carbon neutral.
Setting
This retrospective study was undertaken by the Young Ophthalmologists For Sustainability committee under the ESCRS.
Methods
Disposables from 42 cataract packs across 11 European nations was fed into the SIDICS online tool by using their product lists. The closest available products were entered from the software’s product list if an exact match was unavailable. The estimate of number of surgeries performed each year were entered. If unavailable, data from product list for a single cataract surgery was entered. The kilograms of carbon equivalent (kgCO2 eq) of cataract surgeries from each centre per annum was calculated, compared to the ESCRS recommended benchmark cataract pack and potential kgCO2 eq savings calculated as percentages. The disposable items contributing the highest to each centre’s carbon footprint were identified. The study excluded data such as phacoemulsification cassettes, medical equipment, theatre’s running cost of building energy use and travel sector contributions. Recommendations to the contributing centres is due to be undertaken to identify immediate, short and long-term steps in making each practice more environmentally sustainable.
Results
Data from 35 centres and 10 countries were suitable for analysis with 7 excluded due to insufficient data. The mean carbon footprint per annum per centre was 15965.9 kgCO2 eq vs 12969.9 kgCO2 eq for the ESCRS benchmark cataract pack. The mean potential carbon savings per annum per centre was 2846 kgCO2 eq. 3 primary action points were identified: Firstly, the large size drapes and back table covers contributed the maximum to the carbon footprint. Secondly, eliminating extra gowns, plastic gallipots and armrest covers from potential future packs can reduce the carbon footprint by 1180.6 kgCO2 eq per centre. Thirdly, adding sustainability to the next tender or switching to the ESCRS recommended lean cataract packs will reduce cost as well as the waste produced. The limitation to this study was that information on waste recycling was not available.
Conclusions
The increasing numbers of cataract surgery worldwide provides a unique opportunity to reduce the environmental impact. The approach to more sustainable cataract surgery will require utilising technology such as the SIDICS tool and collaboration with professional bodies dedicated to sustainability. Partnership with the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry will be essential in achieving carbon neutrality in cataract surgery.